CLUELESS INSIDER

Frank Cho wallpaper & sketch gallery 2

2009-11-13T12:28:00.007-05:00

Time for another gorgeous wallpaper gallery by the master of cheesecake fantasy, Frank Cho. Frank should've been born in 1901. His pulp fiction illustration work in the 1930s would've been astonishing. But, lucky for us, he's part of our generation and we can expect a lot more from him, especially if he gets out of his Marvel deal and starts doing some censorable material again. But I don't blame Frank. Paying bills is fine. All wallpapers 1024 x 768.

Vanity Fair's "Vanities"

2008-10-27T11:45:00.008-04:00

Since Vanity Fair's rebirth 25 years ago, the magazine has delivered one of the most stimulating cocktails of style, politics and investigative journalism available on the printed market. In a recent issue, the mag revealed the identity of Deep Throat, the until-then secret Watergate whistle-blower, beating even Bob Woodward to his own scoop! But we digress. Vanity Fair continues to publish outstanding, sexy pictures and portraits of celebrities from all walks of fame. My dear readers will certainly appreciate the Vanities Girls feature, a showcase of impeccable retro pin-up style photos of hot young rising starlets by the magazine's top photographers. We have seen countless attempts at reproducing the vibe of those classic pin-ups, with various degrees of (mostly) failure, but the style artists at Vanity Fair are doing an impressive job. You may browse through the selected photos published here or visit the online home of Vanities to read about the subjects of the images.

Modesty Blaise was anything but

2008-10-27T09:27:00.007-04:00

The delightfully grrrroovy comic strip Modesty Blaise was created way back in 1963 by writer Peter O'Donnell and artists Jim Holdaway, and debuted in the London Evening Star. It ran until 2001 and spun off novels and three movies. Far from modest, the lead character is the quintessential bad girl, a reformed criminal mastermind who uses his skills and underworld contacts to pull off capers for the British secret services or to help complete strangers. Modesty's sexy adventures are loaded with elaborate conspiracies, exotic locations, abundant scenes of hand-to-hand combat and unusual weapons, not to mention fabulous outfits. In the US, the strip had erratic distribution due to its... guess... sexual content! Aside from the occasional nudity, Modesty would sometimes use a technique she called the "nailer", whereby she would appear topless in front of an enemy to cause a much needed distraction and allow for her partner or herself to dismantle the threat. As it is the case for most American fiction, one panel of partial nudity would drive censors up the wall and make them forget the hard-hitting writing and fantastic art of one of the best works of adventure fiction of the sixties and the inspiration of many female heroes to follow. In these times of political correctness and rampant puritanism, it is a sheer pleasure to dive into an old-school irreverent adventure trip. Thanks to Titan Books, the reprints are now available. Check out the collection here.

Sky Captain should've flown higher

2008-10-17T23:03:00.008-04:00

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) is probably one of the most underrated sci-fi movies of this decade. The picture is a labor of love and a passionate homage to matinee films and pulp fiction adventures of the 30s and 40s. Set in an alternative 1938, it features the most creative production design and art direction since the original Star Wars, Alien and The Matrix. The picture is, simply put, gorgeous, and finds its inspiration in all those classic sci-fi elements that sparked the imagination of Americans in the 1930s: Mad scientists, dangerous dames, a manly hero, airplane dog fights, giant robots, secret bases in the Himalayas, underwater adventure, a giant "helicarrier" above the clouds, a lost King-Kong-type island with dinosaurs AND ANGELINA JOLIE, as a one-eyed amphibian squadron commander! One of my favorite nods to the period is the use of air ships for intercontinental travel, with a docking bay on top of the Empire State building, which was the real reason why the iconic mast was built in the first place. The whole show was shot against green screen and the sets were painted digitally, a couple of years before Sin City. The artistry is breathtaking. And there is a good old Hollywood story behind it, described in detail on the DVD. First-time director Kerry Conran, who, inexplicably, has not been given another film since, got the movie made based on a short he crafted single-handily for years and then peddled around town until a producer had enough vision to bring it to Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina. Sky Captain is now a cult gem to be discovered and appreciated by sci-fi lovers in the decades to come. Someone should start a petition to get Kerry another film soon, although there were rumors circulating about his involvement in a possible adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars.

When will the L Word get an award?

2008-10-17T21:55:00.010-04:00

Only priests and Christian Coalition members are not supposed to watch the L Word, the Showtime TV series that follows the lives of a close group of lesbians, bisexuals and transgender women, their families and entourage in West Hollywood-land. Without going into a deep review, let it be said that the writing is superb, the drama high, the sex-factor hot, cleverly staged and just a few frames short of avoiding an outright ban from television. And the whole thing is performed by one of the best female casts ever assembled (yes, a lot stronger than Sex in the City and Desperate Housewives). After Flashdance, those who forgot how great Jennifer Beals could be, will be reminded. The magnificent Pam Grier (Foxy Brown) is in the house, along with Mia Kirshner, Rachel Shelley, Katherine Moenning, as the tom-boyish heartbreaker, and Sarah Shahi, as Carmen, the curvaceous good-girl Hispanic lesbian that would make a straight woman regret her genetic orientation. A-list stars pop up left and right and viewers are left constantly wondering how the producers manage to get away with some scenes and situations. The L Word is landmark TV into its 6th season. And what about that weird theme song by Betty? Check it out:

CHÉ, ¿Qué pasa?

2008-10-17T21:28:00.001-04:00

Steven Soderbergh and Benicio del Toro made an epic film about Che Guevara. Obviously, this posting has nothing to do with that. The reference to the film is just a ploy to squeeze some of their traffic out of search engines. It's called marketing. And when it comes to marketing, few companies beat the Belgian men's mangazine, CHÉ. Think Maxim and FHM, but Belgian and in Flemmish (that's a language, not a bodily expectoration). The target, of course, is male readers. Not only do they have extremely eye-catching ads, such as the Let Us Keep On Dreaming of a Better World campaign above, but they also come up with some extremely original merchandising, as attested by the pics below. As a branding fan, all I can say is congrats for sticking out in a highly competitive and cluttered indusry. Does anybody realize how difficult it is to come up with original sexy advertising? As a bonus, keep on scrolling down to check out one of their infamous TV ads.

D.E.B.S.: Lesbian camp

2008-10-17T21:27:00.013-04:00

"Camp" as in "campy film", not as in a camp where you can actually go and see...oh, never mind. Angela Robinson is a fine director and one of those rare creative minds who enjoys tongue-in-cheek sexy B-movies as much as tongue-in-other-places hardcore drama. Angela has directed some of the finest episodes of the L-Word, that fabulous TV show about the life of lesbians in L.A., while giving us such brain-candy as Herby Fully Loaded and D.E.B.S. The latter, a film based on her award-winning short of the same name, is a guilty pleasure that only made $97,446 at the U.S. box office. Lovers of camp and school girl comic books will appreciate D.E.B.S., Angela's low-budget escapist ride about an espionage school for nubile young ladies, in very, very short plaid skirts. The cast is just lovely, including Jordana Brewster in the role of the evil (and lesbian) Lucy Diamond, Sara Foster as the lead good agent who falls for Lucy and Devon Aeoki (Miho, in Sin City), in a great turn as a French spy nymph. Michael Clarke Duncan is their Bosley equivalent. Readers should know that Angela is a legit lesbian and, therefore, has the the finesse to handle the topic with gusto. I just remember something: Lindsay Lohan was in Herbie.

D.E.B.S. trailer (you'll know right away if it's your cup of tea):

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2008-10-15T01:07:00.000-04:00

The Woody Allen/Scarlett Johansson pairing is about to go down as one of the most iconic writer-director/star relationships since Billy Wilder and Marilyn Monroe. He's the master filmmaker that even his most loyal NY critics had started to write off as no-longer-capable of connecting with his audience. She's the hot young star with the velvety voice and looks that redefine photogeny. Together, they have reminded us that when a genius meets a muse, magic happens. Their first two pictures, Match Point and Scoop, were just a warm-up leading up to Vicky Cristina Barcelona, one of the sexiest and most thought-provoking films about relationships to hit American theaters in who-knows-how-many years. It tells the tale of two young female American students with opposing views on love, who get involved with an intense, horny and older Spanish painter while spending a few soul-searching days in Barcelona. Suffice to say that the script is phenomenal, the directing smooth as an Exxon oil spill and Scarlett is... well... Scarlett is....Scratlet si...shrikpfxssss...................... Sorry. I drifted. Woody, at age 72, has silenced his critics. He remains a loud and original voice in American cinema, a species in serious danger of extinction. Whatever ideas Scarlett triggers in him, one can only hope they will keep on coming.

Milo Manara and branded entertainment

2008-10-15T01:06:00.003-04:00

Imagine your beloved girlfriend leaves you suddenly. In the depths of your despair, you accidentally encounter a 70-year old playboy, member of an ancient secret sect dedicated to the art of seducing women. The handsome guru sees something special in you, decides you've got the sacred fire and proceeds to mentor you in the fine art of infallible seduction. Sounds like fun? Well, this is the actual premise of City Hunters (not the Japanese manga), an animated show from Argentina inspired by character designs created by Italian erotic artist Milo Manara. The show is produced by Unilever, the makers of Axe Body Spray, and is a fine example of branded entertainment. The web site is loaded with sexy features and slick navigation, but, for some reason, I couldn't get the videos to play in Canada (it may be a regional restriction or my Commodore 64). The clips are available on YouTube under City Hunters Axe. While the web site is in Spanish, the show was produced in English to satisfy the international aspirations of partner Fox and sub-titled for the Hispanic market. Online branded entertainment is in its infancy and it almost feels like the early days of cinema, where anything that moved was a movie subject. But, while concepts are still a little rough around the edges, expect to see some great shows emerge as strong creators and cutting-edge companies gang up to produce original content (remember those BMW short films?)

The Vinyl Underground: spooky society

2008-10-15T01:05:00.000-04:00

The Vinyl Underground is a creepy, sexy, hip and, sadly, recently canceled comic book series written by Si Spencer, with pencils by Simon Gane and inks by brush master Cameron Stewart. Living in an abandoned London underground station, a four-member group investigates occult crimes, providing anonymous tips to the police. The group is led by minor celebrity DJ Morrison Shepherd, the son of an ex-footballer freshly released from prison. Shepherd is aided by Perv, an ex-con clairvoyant whose seizures give him early clues to crimes; Leah King, a morgue assistant who moonlights as an internet model/pornstar; and Shepherd's ex-girlfriend Kim "Abi" Abiola, an African tribal Princess in exile, whose witchdoctor father is accused of the murder that becomes the group's first mystery. The debut story arc, now available on trade paperback, pulls our odd heroes into the nasty world of urban mutti magic, a no-nonsense African practice that consists in making medicine out of fresh body parts. The younger the better. Crazy thing is, mutti is still practiced today. In Vinyl Underground, the X-Files meets TMZ.

Italians advertise it better

2008-10-15T01:04:00.001-04:00

In places like Italy, the success of an advertising campaign is measured by the number of national erections. Sex is used to sell anything. It's so outrageous, I've posted some examples. Oh, the scandal...

The ad above sells underwear. Makes sense. I want it, especially if it can make my derriere look so silky. This one below features Federica Ridolfi, an Italian model closer to sainthood than Pope Benedict, advertising cheese. No, really. Cheese:

This one brings to life the work of erotic comic book artist Milo Manara and insinuates that cartoon girls are indeed attracted to older men, but only if they sleep on certain mattresses:

And here's Charlize Theron, peddling Campari:

Lastly, another Campari ad without Charlize. I think they could've saved themselves the star fee:

Michael Turner's greatest feat

2008-10-15T01:03:00.000-04:00

(A Michael Turner wallpaper and sketches gallery awaits here!)

In spite of what the contents of this blog may lead some to believe, the comic book universe remains largely dominated by male characters in colorful tights. Good monthly titles starring female heroes are as rare as an anorexic person in Louisiana. While it seems like every week a new femme fatale or bad girl title hits the shelves, it usually vanishes after a few issues. Only Wonder Woman (1942), Catwoman (1993), Red Sonja (1977), Witchblade (1995) and Fathom (1998) can claim the distinction of having starred in their own books for more than 10 years. The late Michael Turner, an extraordinary artist who lost his battle with cancer in June 2008, was directly responsible for the success and the longevity of the last two. He not only had a devilish gift for drawing torrid women, but Witchblade and Fathom were and still are truly original characters, inhabiting rich worlds filled with magic, sci-fi and a bizarre supporting cast. Most astonishingly, they appeal to female readers, a feat comparable to climbing the Everest backwards. In the 90s, where the only women found in a comic book store were printed characters, girls started walking in and purchasing Michael's books, scaring the living daylights out of clerks everywhere. His disciples are many, but none of them have yet given us a lasting heroine.

Action girl Gina Carano

2008-10-15T01:02:00.001-04:00

In a room of 1,000 people, men and women, it's probably safe to say that Gina Carano could probably pound into submission about 800 of them. A bad MMA fighter with a record of 7 wins, 0 losses at the time of writing, with 3 KOs and one submission, Gina is also known to viewers-who-don't-watch-Gossip Girl as Crush, on American Gladiators. Weighing in at 141 pounds and standing 5'8", Gina was one of the main attractions of the first Elite XC cage fighting event ever televised on CBS. She traumatized folks watching free primetime TV by destroying her opponent in a most un-girly fashion. Soon thereafter, Gina achieved the distinction of becoming the most searched-for person on Google for the month of May 2008, waaay ahead of Obama. If you didn't know, now you know. Since Gina can look deceivingly cute and sweet in pictures and a few parents reading this may now be inspired to switch their daughters from ballet to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay-thai, I've posted the clip below to showcase her grace in the octagon and the poetry of the sport:

Stars & Spandex (and leather, and PVC...)

2008-10-15T01:01:00.000-04:00

What deep emotional need drives the world's biggest movie stars to play comic book, anime and video game characters? Is it just to put food on the table and pay the rent? Or is there something about the outfits and the buttock-booting role play? The issue is better left to the experts. For now, enjoy this little gallery of our favorite leading ladies and their corresponding alter-egos.

The Megan Fox gambit

2008-09-24T22:07:00.005-04:00

I don't know what to make of Megan Fox, yet. The girl is as photogenic as the pyramids. She loves comic books and video games. At the time of this writing, she's only been in one feature film about giant robots that turn into stuff, with two more about to be released (Diablo Cody's Jennifer's Body and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People). In her wildly popular GQ interview (October 2008), shamelessly entitled Megan Fox was a Teenage Lesbian, she dishes out such career-building quotes as "Yeah. Fuck Disney", "Olivia Wilde is so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands" and "I went out of my way to create a relationship with this girl, a stripper named Nikita." At the wise age of 23, she seems game to keep feeding the fantasies inspired by her sacrilegious looks and, so far, much against the puritan attitudes so pervasive in Hollywood, has decided not to excommunicate her sexual nature. Fans are lighting candles in churches across the nation, praying that she proves herself a worthy actress and goes on to a long career, loaded with controversial roles. The world needs at least one truly unapologetic bad girl. In the meantime, I've posted a wallpaper gallery here and a little video from her last GQ photo shoot. Envious actresses, please, forgive me, but the clip has a really catchy tune.

Terry Dodson's French erotic adventure

2008-09-24T22:06:00.001-04:00

(Visit the lovely Terry Dodson Songes wallpaper and art gallery here!)
(Then, find Terry Dodson super heroine wallpapers and pin-ups here!)

Comic book artist Terry Dodson has a way of drawing that makes even sidewalks look horny. Understandably, he has become one of the go-to guys for books featuring curvaceous heroines, such as Harley Quinn (where he got to draw some of the hottest gals in the Batman universe) and Wonder Woman. Looking at his work over the years, one can tell that Dodson was itching to pencil something a little more edgy and with as few male characters as possible. Unfortunately, the opportunities to create adult (see erotic) material when laboring for Marvel and DC come as often as the 31st of February. So, Dodson set his sights on France, where he was invited by the publishing house Les Humanoïdes Associés to illustrate Songes, a gorgeous graphic novel released in 2006, written by D.P. Filippi. "Songes translates roughly as 'Dreams' or 'Daydreams', a very apt title for a book about the imaginative fantasies of its heroine, Coraline, as she explores the mysteries of an elaborate mansion and its inhabitants in the French countryside. Applying for the position of governess, Coraline finds herself charged with the care of the temperamental young master Vernère, who owns the château. As she discovers more about the prodigiously talented and precocious inventor, she begins to find herself drawn into a world of mystery, romanticism and sensuality, which expresses itself through her vivid dreams." (See the full review by Dave Wallace here.) It's Jules Verne meets soft Milo Manara, with Dodson's best art to date.

Hammer is back!

2008-09-24T22:05:00.000-04:00

Not MC. The other Hammer. That British film production house that spawned an impressive list of cult pictures from the 50s to the 70s and gave us all the Christopher Lee Dracula features, along with such classics as The Curse of Frankestein, The Hound of the Baskerville, The Mummy, Curse of the Werewolf, Shadow of the Cat, One Million Years B.C., When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Countess Dracula and dozens and dozens more "Curses" and Frankensteins and mummies and barbarian girls and gothic tales of horror and lust. On September 22, 2008, the re-born Hammer launched principal photography on The Wake Wood, a horror flick about a couple who decides to go through with a pagan ritual to have three more days with their dead 9-year-old daughter. David Keating is at the helm, directing a screenplay he co-wrote with Brendan McCarthy. Let's wish them success and a long and prosperous new start. Thanks to author and blog sensei extraordinaire Stefan Hammond for the tip. And while the quality of many good old Hammer films remains questionable, no one can deny the grooviness of their poster collection, some of which you will find below for your nostalgic enjoyment, including the never-produced Mistress of the Seas (it's the intention that counts):

It's good to get Scalped

2008-09-24T22:04:00.002-04:00

The best way to describe the comic book Scalped is The Sopranos set in an Indian reservation, without the glamour. This book hits harder than Tyson in the 80s. After a few years of absence, a fellow named Dashiell Bad Horse returns to his native (and fictional) Prairie Rose Indian Reservation, in South Dakota. He finds a town still run by the ruthless local mob and the owners of a shiny new casino. Bad Horse is a man with a very huge chip on his shoulder, a mean streak and the skills to back it up. He makes any Tarantino gun slinger look like the Supernanny. Bad Horse raises so much hell that he's eventually hired by Red Crow, the big boss. Unbeknown to all, the readers soon learn that Bad Horse is an undercover FBI agent out to get Red Crow, setting the stage for some very ugly stuff to hit a big fan. And if that wasn't touchy enough, he gets involved in a nasty affair with Red Crow's married daughter, the very naughty Carol. Realistically written by Jason Aaron and grittily illustrated by R.M. Guéra, this is the book your momma warned you about when she told you to stay away from comics. One of the best current pieces of crime fiction, in any medium.

The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics

2008-09-24T22:03:00.000-04:00

Straight from Paul Gravett's insightful website: "Paul Gravett and Peter Stanbury have put together The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics, a 480-page collection of 24 mean, moody masterpieces, many painstakingly restored by Stanbury. They range from classic newspaper strips and notorious uncensored pre-Code comic books to the finest in American, British and European graphic novels. The line-up includes: Dashiell Hammett & Alex Raymond, Will Eisner, Johnny Craig, Mickey Spillane, Bernie Krigstein, Alan Moore, Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, Neil Gaiman, Alex Toth, Jacques Tardi, Jordi Bernet, Paul Grist, Jack Cole, Charles Burns, Max Allan Collins, and José Muñoz & Carlos Sampayo. Highlights include the first comic book appearance by Mike Hammer's prototype, written by Spillane and shot from the original comic book artwork, and the never-before-reprinted last ever comic book by EC genius Bernie Krigstein, a bizarre 87th Precinct tie-in to Ed McBain's famous characters." Check out the editor's web site for interviews and a wealth of information about the pieces in the collection and crime comics in general. It is an outstanding labour of love.

Tiny grave for a giant

2008-09-24T22:02:00.004-04:00

Allison Hayes, a Hollywood B-movie starlet of the 50s, became famous for his portrayal of the "monstrous" vixen in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Since roles like that have a way of type-casting stars, and that the next giant woman attack film was made decades after her death (a remake, with Darryl Hannah), Allison never went on to further glory, although she did achieve cult status. Very few people are aware that Allison fought her toughest battle off-screen. She passed away in 1977 as a result of lead blood poisoning from the consumption of a daily calcium food supplement prescribed by a doctor in 1962. In the years between 1964 and her death, Allison fought tooth-and-nails against the medical establishment to prove the cause of her poisoning and to get the substance banned. The FDA, which had always considered food supplements a "gray area", was finally moved by Allison's battle to incorporate health food issues into its 1977-78 compliance programs. For a concise bio, please, click here to read the wonderful article by Jackrandall Earles. To echo Mr. Earles, if you enjoyed Allison's films and happen to be in L.A., do drop by her tiny grave in Holy Cross Cemetery and leave a flower.

Here's the original trailer of her most memorable picture...

A word from Laetitia Casta

2008-09-24T22:01:00.005-04:00

Mes chers amis,

You might remember me as a former Victoria Secret's and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. I was chosen in 1999 by the Mayors Association of France to be the model for a bust of Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic, which stands proudly in every city hall in the nation. Shortly thereafter, I took up residence in London to save a few Euros in taxes, making some of my fellow French countrymen very upset. Since, I've pretty much retired from print and I've been busy making movies (check out my imdb!). I am proud to announce that I was recently cast for a lead role in Visages (Faces), the upcoming film by Taiwanese director Ming-liang Tsai, scheduled for a 2009 release. As you probably know, Tsai won a Berlin Silver Bear in 2005 for A Wayward Cloud and a Venice Golden Lion in 1994 for Vive l’amour. Visages is set and shot in the Louvre. Unfortunately, most of my films tend to be in French and not available in North America. So, just so you don't forget me, I've posted below a saucy music video I shot a while back with my good pal Chris Isaak.

Je vous aime,

Laetitia.

Thaila Zucchi's Balls of Steel

2008-09-14T15:50:00.006-04:00

I don't care how many hidden camera pranks you've seen, you've got to see these ones. Thaila Zucchi is a British-Italian actress and singer. She was a member of the band allSTARS and became infamous for her appearance on the U.K. version of Big Brother 8, where she portrayed a fake Australian housemate. The naughty segments of the British game show Balls of Steel have an uncomfortable and often hilarious charm. Contestants play street pranks on the unsuspecting public by pretending to be incredibly annoying characters that test the tolerance of their victims. Thaila was one of the winners thanks to her segment entitled the Bunny Boiler, in which she blatantly hits on men in front of their girlfriends.

Vincenzo Cucca's campy erotica

2008-09-14T15:49:00.003-04:00

This is really a teaser posting, because the soft-erotic graphic novel La Route des Maisons Rouges (The Road of the Red Houses), illustrated by Italian artist Vincenzo Cucca, is not available in North America, in as far as I know. To tell the truth, the book is just a nice excuse to showcase the titillating pin-up drawing skills of Cucca, a man with a style that shall thrill followers of Marini, J. Scott Campbell, Adam Hughes and Terry Dodson. The script was written so neigh a single panel would be deprived of lusty and curvaceous dames: In a place reminiscent of early 19th century Paris, six houses of debauchery compete to attract clients to their respective sexual paradises. Each house is run by thematic groups of women: DarkLadies (S&M), Cybersex, Chinadolls, Icequeens, Sexysqaw (Native Americans) and Western Pleasures. When the mayor announces that the least profitable house will be shut down to make room for a casino, a creative race to increase business begins. Although the whole thing sounds quite raunchy, it's innocent fun, modest by some standards, and certainly not pornographic. Discover more at GG Studio.

Jessica Lange and King Kong forever

2008-09-14T15:48:00.003-04:00

It's nice to remember how superstars got their break. Producer Dino De Laurentiis plucked an unknown Jessica Lange out of the fashion world and tossed her into his 1976 epic remake of King Kong. Director John Guillermin became mesmerized by the first-time actress and gave her one of the most ludicrous, yet shockingly attractive, screen intros in the history of film, imprinting Jessica in the libidos of males (and some females) across the planet. Her debut scene and the following sequence will leave modern viewers in absolute disbelief: Jessica (named "Dwan") is discovered by the crew of a merchant ship drifting unconscious on a raft in the middle of the ocean. Being a castaway, she's naturally wearing an extremely revealing and wet cocktail dress. Her limp body is carried by crew members to a berth, where they proceed to study her physique as if dissecting a frog. Eventually, she comes to her senses and explains, in a most Marilyn-like manner, something about having survived the sinking of a movie producer's yacht. The all-male crew provides her with some spare clothes and, in an ensuing montage, Jessica adapts to life on a cargo boat, becomes a seamstress and cuts and sews the ill-fitting garments until she creates a minuscule costume, consisting of a cut-off slinky top and cheek-revealing shorts. Guillermin's camera takes advantage of every angle, while the ship's rugged crew and co-stars struggle to stare at anything other than the obvious. From here on, we move to Skull Island, where Guillermin finds numerous opportunities to further "fetishize" our dear Jessica, including the bizarre blow job waterfall scene posted below. No director could get away with the same stunts these days, but the film did propel Jessica to fame. She made no excuses for it, took other roles and showed the world her solid acting skills. Film fans will be forever grateful for the classic production photos left behind of a painfully beautiful starlet in the hands (and fingers) of a horny giant ape. Other films have tried, but none have succeeded, although Guillermin attempted to give Tanya Roberts a similar treatment in Sheena (1984).

Sophia: Da Vinci Code without the clothes

2008-09-14T15:43:00.007-04:00

OK. Maybe Sophia, a graphic novel written by Massimo Visavi and illustrated by Adriano De Vincentiis, is not quite The Da Vinci Code. But somewhere in between the historical mysteries of Dan Brown and the erotic comics of Milo Manara lies this curious story. Originally in Italian, its 54-page first installment was published in English in the 2008 Summer issue of Heavy Metal magazine. Sophia Dellamore is a gorgeous supermodel and the heir to one of the world's largest fortunes. While one would think she'd have a ball traveling around the globe and enjoying her jet-set lifestyle, Sophia is deeply troubled by her past and embarks on a quest to recover her grandfather's will, locked inside a mysterious box, engraved with arcane symbols. But other sinister forces are interested in the object, magic comes into play and we're thrown into an esoteric thriller. The erotica comes courtesy of De Vincentiis' detailed art and his sensual portrayal of Sophia in all her states of dress and undress (even characters inside the book comment on the impracticality of some of her outfits). While a premise with so many campy elements could've easily turned into a ridiculous read, the competent scripting by Visavia and the gorgeous art keep fans eagerly awaiting volume 2. The authors have a hi-tech web site, with possibly the most awkward navigation I've ever encountered: sophiabd.com.